“Humans? What race is that, Crab?”
“They’re a race that lives in this land, not the sea. They have a similar appearance to mermaids.”
Humans and mermaids don’t look that different.
‘At least when you only look at the upper body.’
Except for the fact that their lower half is fish, humans and mermaids are very similar in appearance.
“I see, Crab.”
“That’s right, Your Highness.”
“…I’ll ask you straightforwardly, Crab.”
Daga.
The pincers of Crabnius shut tightly.
It seems he’s trying to control his anger as much as possible.
“Are you the subordinate of the Second Prince, Crabcrows, Crab?”
[Coming soon]
[Oh, direct shot]
[Yep, correct]
[I’m rising like the sun, not a falling star, lol]
[Honestly, isn’t the Second Prince better than the Crown Prince? lol]
[Crab, haha]
I thought he would take the long way around, but I didn’t expect him to ask me directly like this.
However, my answer was already prepared regardless.
“…Since you, Your Highness, asked, I won’t hide it either. Would you permit me to speak freely?”
“Go ahead, Crab.”
“The reason I crossed the distant sea to the Crab Empire is not simply because I’m tempted by the position of a knight.”
The reason I crossed over is…
[Crab stew]
[Ah, haha, I came to eat king crab]
[Excuse me, may I eat the pincers of Your Highness?]
[To turn this empire into a seafood market]
Puff.
“What?”
“What’s going on, Crab?”
“…Ah, it’s nothing.”
[?]
[? hahahahahaha]
[Lily, why did you burst out?]
[You’re bursting out at weird moments]
[Lily is adorable]
[Wha?]
[Crab, you eat delicious food and then laugh… are you seriously a scammer?]
I shouldn’t have glanced at the chat window.
Anyway, that wasn’t what I meant to say.
“I want something rare, not just a position.”
“Something rare, Crab? Are you talking about pearls, Crab?”
“Not something like that.”
Of course, something profitable would be nice, but what I want is something special.
Whether it’s a weapon or a special blessing, buff, or equipment.
At the very least, knowledge would be fine; anything is good.
‘The Crab Empire is a great empire that has lasted for 17 generations.’
From what I’ve roughly skimmed through, the current emperor, Crabgrandonis, is over 50 years old, so this empire has been around for almost a millennium.
Among the things accumulated over a thousand years, there might be something useful like the blessing of Nerindia.
If not…
‘There might be clues related to that place and Deoen.’
“There might be a clue worth looking into.”
“Whatever it is, there’s nothing bad about it for now.”
“Multifaceted.”
Crabnius’s eyes sharpen.
“…What do you know, Crab?”
“What do you mean?”
“……No, Crab. It seems my evaluation of the human race is changing a bit, Crab.”
Crabnius seems to ponder for a moment.
He momentarily mentions ‘that…’ and then closes his mouth, looking down at me with raised eyes.
“You didn’t go to Crabcrows first, did you, Crab?”
“That’s right.”
“If the reward isn’t satisfactory, will you go that way, Crab?”
“I’m not the betraying type.”
But we still aren’t anything to each other, right?
[Ugh]
[Hurry up and get the empire’s secret place out, lol]
[Let’s just chop heads and go to the Second Prince]
[Lily won’t betray]
[Won’t betray (has become a knight but hasn’t received money yet, so can switch sides)]
[Hahahahaha]
[That’s a fact, isn’t it?]
[If you haven’t received the money, you’re not on their side, lol]
The guy! The deputy head pulls out his sharp claw.
Seemingly enraged by my last words, the deputy head exudes a killing intent as if he might attack me at any moment, but Crabnius stops him.
“Yeah, Crab. Such an opportunity wouldn’t have come solely for my benefit, Crab.”
The first emperor must have foretold this day.
“…?”
“Come, Crab. Let me show you what humans lack, Crab.”
[Currently, there are a total of 7 routes available.]
■
“Wh-what, Crown Prince! Crab!”
“Open the door, Crab.”
“B-but. This is the royal secret place… Moreover, the person behind is…”
“Open it, Crab.”
Deeper than inside Crabnius’s palace.
When we reached that deep underground, the subordinates guarding the huge secret place stopped Crabnius.
But no matter how much Crabnius’s power had diminished, this was Crabnius’s palace.
As long as Crabnius is still the master of the palace, there was no Crab that could block access to the secret.
Crabnius opened the door with a key given to him long ago by Emperor Crabgrandonis.
Kuguguguung!!
The heavy door creaked open on its hinges, revealing a massive hall made of golden sandstone.
[It’s a treasure trove]
[Oh]
[Wow]
[But is this how the story is supposed to unfold?]
[No idea]
[It feels like the routes have decreased a lot]
Step by step. Step by step. Step by step.
Since it’s such a large hall, even the smallest footsteps echoed loudly.
“Do you know, Crab? Long ago, the Crab Empire was divided into many tribes and nations and fought against each other, Crab.”
The Legend Crab Empire has been divided into numerous tribes and nations, fighting for supremacy, Crab.
Tock…
“The first emperor, Crabapuoasis, annihilated all seven kingdoms and three tribal alliances to declare a single empire, Crab. It was a historical feat unseen in Crab history, Crab.”
Ta-gak.
“To establish legitimacy, the emperor destroyed the architecture of all kingdoms that were not part of the Crab Empire, but he didn’t destroy their secret places, Crab. Though it’s been a long time, their secret places surely remain, Crab.”
[Wow, so much talk]
[Hahahahaha]
[Crab War, oh no]
[What’s Lily trying to give?]
[So the crazy conqueror burned everything except his own kingdom?]
[Scary, oh no]
Upon reaching the end of the chamber, another door becomes visible.
Two keyholes.
One is a regular keyhole, and the other looks like it could fit a giant claw.
Crabnius inserts keys into both holes and waits briefly.
Rattle rattle rattle—
“Although it’s not as grand as my father’s palace or the recently rising Second Prince’s palace, I think this would suit you better, Crab.”
“What are you trying to give me…”
In that moment, I was at a loss for words.
“The Crab Kingdom, being the weakest and smallest of the seven kingdoms, fought wearing tough and sharp equipment to compensate for their small bodies and claws, Crab.”
Yeah, just like you, Crab.
“……”
“These weapons should be helpful to you, Crab. By the way, you seem to be using that spear thing; there should be a spear over there… Crab.”
“……”
“Crab?”
[?]
[Why did Lily stop?]
[Lily?]
[What’s wrong with Lily?]
[Is Deoen cut off?]
[?]
[But he seems fine]
[Lily?]
[▣White Autumn: The broadcast hasn’t cut off?]
[Is the broadcast messed up?]
There’s something that shouldn’t be here.
A secret place overflowing with countless weapons.
Among them, a massive hammer gleaming in red, floating in a glass container.
My instincts reacted first.
Before Crabnius could stop me, my hand, infused with magical power and wind, shattered the glass and grabbed the hammer’s handle.
The hammer naturally slipped into my grasp.
With a sharp surface reminiscent of a claw, it was twice my height and had several times the surface area.
A weapon exuding the power of a merciless predator.
‘Red Predator.’
This is definitely a weapon I heard about in my past.
[Currently, there are a total of ‘3’ routes available.]
■
“Khahahahaha! How dare a foolish chicken head challenge me!”
“How dare you, you filthy chicken head!”
It’s been nine years since I quit being a Saintess.
By now, I was more accustomed to being a hunter, standing against an Ancient Beast with red eyes and a red body.
That guy was a monster with a body and claws resembling a crab shell, attacking a city filled with countless people.
The reason? Simply venting its rage.
During the deepening war between the Celestial Race and the Demon Race, by sheer chance, the backlash of the attack pierced the ocean’s surface and wounded the creature’s shoulder in the abyss.
It was merely a backlash, but the Ancient Beast, enraged, jumped onto the land and was now venting its anger on humans.
I asked,
“Why take it out on humans when you were hit by the Celestial Race and Demon Race?”
“Being weak is a sin, you stupid chicken head! You include both, so you’re a perfect target for my revenge! Hahaha!”
The Ancient Beast was dozens, no, hundreds, thousands of times larger than me.
That beast laughs as it violates the humans.
This is the characteristic of Ancient Beasts.
They hate the strong Celestial Race and Demon Race from birth, yet treat those weaker or born weak as bugs.
They get angry when they are harmed, but their rage doesn’t target the Celestials or Demons who harmed them; instead, it’s directed at others.
“…I also dislike Celestials and Demons. But I don’t particularly like you either.”
“Half-breeds talk too much. Do you think a mere byproduct like you can do anything?”
“Half-breed.”
Well, that’s generous of you.
It really isn’t much at all.
A gigantic claw filled with immense power was descending upon me.
It resembled a small meteor in size.
The overwhelming force slamming down on my body finally shook the ground violently.
“Ha, hahaha! I’ve killed a Celestial…”
It laughs.
“Grr? Gwaaaaaah!!!”
And then it shatters.
Amid the falling red pieces, a pure white light flared up.
“Trash.”
A massive hammer infused with Holy light delivered divine judgment.
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